Marissa and Taylor knew where they wanted to get married long before they were engaged. So, shortly after Taylor bent the knee the couple got started planning their dream wedding in that charmed location: the Hawaiian islands.

“Taylor’s mom grew up on Oahu,” the bride tells us, “and he has a lot of family there still. When we started dating it was one of the first major trips we took together and we kept going back.”

The couple’s first major challenge in planning was to choose which island to say “I do” on. Each island offers its own unique appeal, making the decision extra difficult.

“We love all of the different islands, so picking an island was honestly the hardest part,” Marissa says. “Once we saw Sugar Beach Events on Maui we really just fell in love with it, and knew that was the spot!”

Of course, the couple’s guests were ecstatic to not only be there to witness their matrimony but also to get to spend an entire week in paradise. But, with friends and family stretching across the mainland U.S. – travel logistics would be tough. Throw in a global pandemic and you have a conundrum on your hands. In fact, Marissa and Taylor would end up having to postpone their nuptials and take extra precautions to ensure the safety of themselves and their guests.

“This was our second wedding date, and it was really important to us that everyone did what they needed to do to get to Maui safely and by abiding by the island’s requirements,” Taylor says.

Luckily, the couple had two secret weapons to help relieve some of their stress: Kristen of Sugar Beach Events and Tiera of White Orchid Wedding. Putting their brains and talent together, the pro planners were able to make the planning process virtually seamless. 

“I would definitely recommend having a wedding coordinator in the same place (or same vicinity) as your wedding is,” the bride says. “It made everything significantly easier, especially as we got closer to the wedding day.”

Although the couple didn’t do much in the way of DIY projects, Etsy became their one-stop shop for all personalized details. A photo collage for the welcome dinner, welcome bag goodies, and a sign which made for the perfect cake-cutting backdrop – all courtesy of Etsy were included in the wedding week.

In the end, all of the logistics and details came together in an unforgettable week of celebration. 

“Having our wedding so far away meant everyone spent a lot of time with us the week of the wedding,” Marissa says, “and it felt like we were celebrating for a number of days before the wedding day, which made it really special.”

Vendors: Photographer: MeewMeew Studios; Wedding Planners: Kristen Sterback of Sugar Beach Events & Tiera Jenson of White Orchid Wedding; Ceremony/Reception Site: Sugar Beach Events; Florist: Sunya’s Flowers; Stationery: Plainly Worded; Catering & Cake: Chef Lee Anderson of Sugar Beach Events; Hair & Makeup: Maui Makeup Artistry; Gown Designer: Lee Petra Grebenau; Groom’s Clothing Designer: Suit Supply; Bridesmaid Dresses: Lulus; Groomsmen Suits: The Black Tux; Music: Maui DJ Services; Shave Ice: Ululani’s Shave Ice; Calligraphy/Signage: Miss B. Calligraphy